Gottlieb - All Ball - guests Nick Wright, Eric Gordon and Chris Broussard

to the pro hoops of the day. Obviously, Romeo Lankford staying home is big for Archie Miller. And the sense has always been at IU, if you can build a fence around the state, you're gonna be able to compete nationally. And you look at all the players that have even now playing collegiately or playing in the pros or played collegiately, they're going to the pros that are from the state. You're like, wow, how did they not go to IU? Now, Remember it's not like I you under Tom Crane didn't

have talent. They had a plethora of um of talented players. I don't think he got fired because he wasn't recruiting well, although not recruiting as well in state sometimes can unseach you just as much as not recruiting well overall is I think really the problem was he went to four n c A tournaments when he was there for nine years or whatever that you know, he only got to

the sweet six team, never got past it. I think there was a general sense they're bumping up into the ceiling, even though they had talented players, and they went out and got Archie, who had as or greater success at a place like Dayton, and so the even the layman can see, well, if you can do that at Dayton, why can't you do better at IU? And there are questions about Archie. I guess at I you, I don't know why. I think Archie's tremendous. He's an indefatigable recruiter.

And he goes and gets his first big top hunter get in the state of Indiana, and now kind of they're often running this could be the this could be the guy who who changes them. It really could. My sense is that you look at the Big ten and you know, this was supposed to be a year that Michigan State could win the whole thing they did not couldn't figure out, couldn't make shots, Agin Syracuses Zone. Michigan obviously overachieved, or I think overachieved, but now they're losing

Wagner to the NBA Draft. Ohio State overachieved, but you know they're losing Beta Cats up. I was kind of a mess, but I think they'll be better next year. But do I think I was suddenly going to leap frog everybody else in the league. Probably not. Um you look at some of the other powers in the league.

Illinois down, having to completely restructure their roster, Minnesota massive injuries, but finally recruiting well in State, but you know, they haven't been able to sustain early season success under Richard Pettino. Like I just kind of Wisconsin was down, and we'll see what happens. If they get their full roster back, which they could have back good at back, could Wisconsin

get back to the top of league. It's kind of fascinating to see what happens to Indiana because in very short order they became kind of an afterthought in the league. But I think Archie, you start getting a recruiting he'll do fine. I like the Archie higher when it was made. And this only some of this is confirmation bias, but getting Robo Langford confirms to me everything I thought about

Archie Miller and Steve will play hard. Um, he's a little bit more evolved as an offensive coach than his brother. Teams play hard, you know, and fundamentally sound like his brother. And then it's just a matter if can you get good enough players and can you get the players to stay? So fascinating, it also interests always interesting to me these top hundred kids, that top fifty, top kids that side.

It's like you're you realize you're getting them for one year, and so sometimes it's better to get the top hunter, top hunter fifty kid who's going to stay for the two to three to four, maybe even five years. Then it is that one kid who, but one player, can completely change your minium momentum and recruiting, especially in a state like Indiana, and completely change the momentum for the

fan base. Oh, they're really doing something. And while there's a lot of pressure on the kid and the pressure on the program to elevate the kids so we can go to the NBA Draft, some of that's a good thing because if the kid has the talent and really buys in will be fine. Fine. I don't think you can win with all one and dones. But I also think it's really hard to win when you don't have good players. So it's got to be a mixture of the two. Let's get to the NBA a couple of

spitfire thoughts. Let me start with Lebron James, who statistically has been unbelievable. I want people to understand two things. One, some of Lebron's dominance is by design from the other team. Right, you're going against Lebron, and I don't know what the best thing Lebron does. I would say some of it is the fact that when he's a downhill driver, he's almost unguardable. But a good portion of what makes Lebron

special is that he's an incredible pastor. Right, So when you have this type of skill as a score and skill as a passer, and the size and athleticism that Lebron has and the versatility defensively, pretty great mix. So what you gotta do is you gotta make, honestly, somebody play left handed. But you want to make somebody only do one thing right, You either only make him a pastor, only make him a score, and I think, what what the Pacers found? You go back to the Warriors last year.

Found what other teams have found is, you know, if we just make Lebron score thirty forty fifty a game, he can't do it. He won't be able to carry the team in the fourth quarter. It's something that as a human being, you run out of You run out of gas in the tank. And remember, though he's not nearly the defender he gets credit for, especially anymore, He's still will guard multiple positions and is put in position

to have to make big plays defensively blocking shots. He obviously blocked the couple of big ones in this series. The point is that, go and look at the fourth quarter in Game seven, he only made two buckets. He took a couple of jump shots that he wasn't close on. He just looked exhausted out there. So I'm not saying Lebron stinks. Anybody who takes that is just silly when they say that. What I'm saying is that some of

the scoring dominance is by design. You want him to score, you want to guard him single coverage, and you want to make him score thirty points, hoping that he just doesn't happen in the tank in the fourth quarter and that you're close and your go to score can make shots where's Lebron cannot. The other part is there is this narrative going that this is the worst roster he's played with since the O eight Finals team, and that's

just silly. And Kevin Love and I don't think Kevin Love is a superstar, but he's definitely a star caliber player. Kevin Loves an All Star. Kevin Loves probably a Hall of Famer. So go back and look at two thousands, and Kevin Love is in his prime. So you can go and tell me that Kevin Love isn't good, and I would tell you that I think Kevin Love is really good. I think Kevin Love and the rest of this team is put in a position to which Lebron

can only really play one way. They can't play ball movement, ball screen, rotate the basketball, they can't play that way at all. They have to play this way. Throw it to Lebron has them out the ball screening action, to which he can find shooters when they're open. Otherwise, if you help, if you double team, he'll pass your guy otherwise that then you just play him straight up and hope he misses. The point is that one of the reasons he's scoring so much is because of the design

of the defense. The other reason is the design of the offense, and one of the reasons the rest of the team doesn't score very much and doesn't look as effective as maybe they would in other NBA systems. Some of is the design of the defense and some of it is the sign of the offense. I'm fascinating to see what happens with Toronto. Toronto does not have a

quality matchup to throw it Lebron James. The teams that do are eventually the Celtics to the Celtics have you know you you go to next year, They'll have Jason Tatum, Jalen Brown, Gordon Hayward at least those three, maybe a little Al Horford to throw at him. And um the Golden State Warriors, who have Kevin Durant, they have Andrea Gadala,

they have Sean Livingston, Um they have Draymond Green. They have four guys to which they can throw at him and say, hey, look we're gonna cut everybody else off and you're gonna have to make shot and have Clay Thompson as well, five guys that can legitimately guard Lebron James. You're not gonna stop him, especially in this day and

age in the NBA, but you're gonna throw them. Look at Toronto and though they do have arguably the best bench in the NBA, the fact is they don't have a perfect o g and a boy is is just a rookie. Like, he's not gonna shut down Lebron James. He won't get he'll get in the foul trouble before that happens. He has the body, but he doesn't have the game yet on offense to to make Lebron garden. So I still think the Calves can beat Toronto, but I think Toronto just and they only have one day

off in between all these games. Toronto can, just like Indiana, can wear him out by making him score for to night, and that's what he's gonna have to do. I'm gonna have to score for to night. I wouldn't bet against Lebron because he has a mental game. He has the mental edge over the over the Raptors. But I do think there is the possibility that he just runs out of gas in Toronto because they have a DeMar Derozin who is a more refined player, more fine player than

a victor Or Oladipo. I do think there's the possibility that that Toronto. I didn't think they can win this series going back two months ago. Now I think they can. I wouldn't pick them, but I think they can. And then you got out West where as of recording of this, Steph Curry is going to play tonight, and I think it's it's it's very very interesting. Draymond Green wasn't hitting shots in the regular season, struggled summ early on, was

better in Game one versus the Pelicans. Igo Dollas shot a much higher number of threes in the postseason, played more mids in the postseason. You still have Livingston there, and you have some other young pieces. I'm a little concerned about the Warriors bench in the playoffs, in the in the in the Western Conference Finals against the Rockets, but I'm I'm less concerned if Steff is truly back, If Staff is truly back, and you have Staff, if k d if Clay, they just need Draymond to make

shots to spread that floor out. Igu Dolla has hit a lot more shots, command a lot more respect. Those the two guys, only two guys you can help off. I'll be fasting to see how staff looks, how he plays, if they give him some kind of piecemeal it, or if they throw them into they throw him in the fiery place thirty five tonight. You know that he was ready to play a long time ago, and they were

just being extra extra extra cautious before they did. So. That said, it does feel like a collision course with the Rockets. And I do still like the Warriors over the Rockets because the Rockets, though they'll win a game or two because they can just score all that well, I still think they're so beholding the three point shot and they're not. Though the stats would tell you they're

a little bit better defensively than they actually are. There's some flaws or some holes and what they do defensively, I would I would still take the Warriors even sight unseen with with Steph Curry. And then you have the Oklahoma City thunder. What do you do? I think you gotta get rid of Karmento Anthony, which is easier said than done. Look, you can tell me what whatever you want about Phil Jackson how he mismanaged the New York Next you're probably right, But Phil Jackson, do you remember

who he liked most in the NBA draft. He's the rookie who's tearing it up of the Boston Celtics. Like that's who he actually valued above anybody else in the NBA draft. And Phil Jackson wanted to try to get rid of Carmelo Anthony. And you're right if you say, hey, god live, you're an idiot. First, you're right for that. The second he he's the one who gave Melow a no trade clause. But I think given no Melo no trade clause was I mean, give you no trade clause. But if we ever need a move you, I think

we both agree it's time to move you. But I look at Oklahoma City and and the reaction Melow had at the end of the season, which was basically, hey, they used me wrong, and I have more to offer than I was given. No, you don't. Carmelo Anthony is just patently self unaware. Mellow is a hummer too. Remember those h two big bulky cool when you kind of they were kind of cool looking, look like you were,

you know, some like military dude. Like a tough guy. Yeah, but the truth is and H two guzzles too much gas, and H two it doesn't have a third row seats, and H two isn't as off road capable as some would lead you to believe. And H shoes are really early early two thousand's sort of vehicles everyone else has.

You either go fuel efficient or you go the remade Escalade, the remade Lincoln Navigator, the remade Yukon, the remade Suburban Writer Infinity, like H two is kind of somewhere in the middle, and it uses more gas and has less room than all of the other SUVs, and it's just

kind of not needed. It's just kind of a show piece that people have now to look like there's some kind of tough guy when really we think they're caught in the In two thousand three, that's what Carmelo Anthony this as a player, a right great midrange shooter, great post up guy, a great ball stopper. Can't guard any position that doesn't work. In two thousand eighteen, you'll be

able to switch out to point cards. You gotta bail guards, centers, you gotta be able rebound, got bill shoot threes, all not strengths of who Carmelo Anthony is. So I would try and find a way to get rid of Carmelo. The problem is twenty million dollars. You're probably gonna have to buy him out. You just are. And then you have Paul George, who I think truth be Told enjoyed his experience playing in Oklahoma City, and I think truth be told. He likes Russell Westbrook the player, and sometimes

it's fun to play with him. But eighty two games for five more years, you know, it's a hundred games a year. Probably passed on that one. The Thunder could go from three games to one with Kevin Durant, hell NBA Finals with Harden Durant, Russell Westbrook, OBAKA two Russell Westbrook and yet another new roster, and the question becomes, do they have another coach? If it's me, I double down on Billy Donovan. He now has the NBA and

the playoff experience that he didn't have previously. He has sweat equity with Russell Westbrook, and Russell Westbrook is under contract for the foreseeable future. Double down on him, give him a couple more years. Tell Russell Westbrook, you guys need to work it out, work together, remake this roster, and Russell is gonna have to take better shots and play off the Balsom. That's the only way you make it work. I could tell you that Jayson Tatum is awesome,

or that Terry Rogier is a surprise. I would also point this out with the Boston Celtics. Not enough people give credit to Al Horford, not just his efficiency, but his ability to guard multiple positions on defense. Yes, Brad

Stevens is amazing, He's a witch. I don't know how he consistently wins now without his top two players, but I will tell you that a good portion of what's allowed the Celtics to be successful it was their acquisition of Al Horford, to which people thought they massively overpaid for him. And anybody who watches tape on the NBA is like, you know what, Al Horford's probably worth everybody, everybody.

I don't think the Sixers are dead yet, but I do think this is big boy basketball and they're gonna have to learn the importance of defending every possession, not giving up some of the easy open shots. And I think the Rockets against the Jazz the perfect sign of what happens college or pro. When there's an upset before a big game or a big series, how have been the Thunder? The Jazz were better than the Thunder. All they got some calls, especially in that last game what

looked like a foul on three point shop. But the Jazz were better in that series than the Thunder. But the Thunder were a tougher match. Happened more likely to take some games from the Houston Rockets. This is what happens when there's an upset in earlier series suddenly becomes a complete mismatch in the second round. Factor in Ricky Rubio not playing, and unless he plays, they can't be competitive. And even with him, I don't think they'll be competitive

with the Rockets. But let's welcome in a friend of the program, personal friend, Nick Right. The show which you should watch every morning East coast six thirty to nine thirty Eastern time, three thirty to six thirty West Coast time. Of course you can DVR. It also replays later on the day. The show is called First Things First. Um. You can also uh download the pod as well. He's Nick Right. He joins us on the Doug Gottlieb Show. I forgive me, I didn't hear your reaction to you

Baker going number one overall? Was that the right call? I mean, it's it's a gut to your call, and I would have been able to make. I I understand if you're going for the guy with the highest upside of all the quarterbacks, if you're just trying to get the guy who has the best chance to be the very best of all the players, I understand it. I didn't think the Browns had the luxury of making that call. I thought they had to go with the safest call, the guy who had the least chance of flaming out.

I think that likely was Sam Donald. I think Josh Rosen is the guy who's going to end up being the best player out of all of them. So I mean, I think I would have gone Donald, maybe Rosen. I thought Baker. The only guy that I know I wouldn't

have taken was Josh Allen. I mean, I understand what the Browns did, but it also does feel like they have the opportunity to get the very best quarterback and the very best defensive player, and they might have ended up with the second or third ask quarterback and the second or third best defensive player. In the draft at one and four. Ye yep, because they're the Browns. And look, maybe they're smarter than the rest of us, right, maybe

they know something we do not. We will see time will in fact tell all right, Nick right joins just on the Doug Gotlik Show. I guess, my, my, my question with Lebron is this, I don't know how he keeps it up, Like do I think sometimes guys use press conferences to code messages to the league, to the officials, to the other teams. Sure, but when he said he was exhausted, I believed him. Um. I just I don't know how much you can keep up completely carrying one

team through the playoffs. And Nick, as you know, there's only one day off in between all these games with the Raptors. What are your thoughts on whether or not he can continue at this pace? Well, I mean, they're gonna beat the Raptors and he's going to continue to be absolutely unbelievable, if not unimpressive to I don't know, folks such as Doug Gottlieb who just has to mind the world. But wait, but wait, a lot of these records Lebron is said are because he's played a lot

of basketball. Don't forget that part of it. But I digress slightly. I don't think he's going to do what he did in Round one in Round two, but I don't think he's going to need to. I think the Raptors are actually, while the Raptors are better than the Pacers, the Raptors are a much better matchup for the Calves than the Pacers were. We've seen that over the last

few years, the regular season and the postseason. I also think Kevin Love doesn't have to be an All Star in the second round, but he's not going to play the worst two weeks of basketball of his career as he just played. He's not gonna shoot thirty And I think you have a pretty good idea who on the team right now you can play and you can't play like Jordan Clarkson does not need to see the court.

Rodney Hood can be given a few chances, are a chance the beginning of the second quarter and every game, and if he once again looks like the moment is simply too big for him, then guess what. He can go to the bench like there's only seven, maybe eight guys who really feel like you can trust you'll roll roll with those guys. But I just I think I don't. I don't see how that. I don't see how that's sustainable. Like, look, I'm with you, I I there's no reason for me

to buy into Toronto. None. None, And I like the rosan Um. I just I they have no one who can match up with Lebron. They are they're they're the way in which they're built is flawed for this one guy. And if you don't have anybody and guard the best player in the Eastern Conference and arguably the best players still in the game, then you have no you have you don't have. You're you're starting. You're starting at the

game at a substantial disadvantage. Um, as opposed to the Warriors, who they lined up like their whole roster is comprised of guys who can at least try and stay in front of Lebron. Right, there's a difference in roster construction. That said, what you're suggesting by going to like seven or eight dudes, I don't, I don't see. They have older guy is as well, and they need to get

something out of Rodney Hood. They need to get something out of Jordan Clarkston because they if nothing else they're younger, and so they're gonna have to chew up some minutes kind of like a like an innings either fourth or fifth, right, Like, I don't need you to be my ace, but it needs to get some good minutes out of you. Well, listen, I can't trust Jordan Clarkson. And I want to revisit something you said there in a second, but I can't listen.

Jordan Clarkson's favorite play all year long has been this to get the ball in the back court, dribble eleven times right into a closely guarded, contested seventeen football away. Like he's unplayable, I he is, a's A. He's shockingly

bad in the worst spots Rodney Hood. You would like to see something on him, But the reality is this last year with Utah in eleven games in the postseason in heavy minutes, thirty six percent from the floor from three this year around those same numbers, the moment's just been too big for him. Like, so you've got to find guys the moment's not too big for them. But you just and I just that you're totally correct on this. Nobody hasn't answer for Lebron right just like nobody has

an answer for Kevin Durant. There's certain guys, nobody, but the Pacers at least listen. You throw Sad Young in him for ten minutes. You can throw Boyanovitch at him for ten minutes. It's oddly enough, Lance can actually be a pain in his butt, like the Raptors have nothing. O G O O G. Maybe for a little bit, but he's a rookie. He's you know what's gonna happen. He's gonna get in a foul trouble to sit down,

and then they'll throw somebody else at him. But I'm still I'm still like, look, I'm just reasonably concerned because what what what the Pacers tried to do kind of worked. I mean like, look, he was too tired to make any shots. He made the two lamps in the fourth quarter in Game seven, but the but the Pacers were so the Pacers so inept offensively, it didn't matter, right. But this is this is by the way, and this is an argument we got in when we talked about

the finals last year. This is one of the odd things because folks, when they're trying to poke holes in what is an impenetrable resume, they squint hard enough, they make themselves dizzy, and they go with illogical notes like guess what, Like when you score forty five, the official scorer doesn't care when those points were scored, Like when you when you score when you average forty two in victories, nobody cares that you were better in the first half

than the second half because the points all count the same. And so I have two questions for you, because that's absolutely by the way, that's absolutely not true. Okay, that's that's if you simply go by the numbers, then you're accurate. If you go based upon anything we've ever judged in sports. It's what you do in the fourth quarter, what you do.

And I would actually, I actually give Lebron more of a pass than many others would because in the past I respect the fact that, dude, when you got to score thirty five in the first three quarters, you two would be the most tiring thing you can you can do in basketball is try and score every time down the court. Okay. The second most tiring thing you can do is have to play defense on multi multiple positions every time down the court. Those are the two things

we asked Lebron James to do. But but he's but he he didn't have it in the fourth quarter in several of these games. He didn't have it in the fourth quarter in the finals last year, and Kevin Durant did. And I think that's that's the game plan, and you have to wear him down because there isn't anybody else who can step up and carry them. And it has to be all Lebron. Doug. You you you've been making the case all year. He's not the best player in the world anymore, you said a second ago, you know,

maybe arguably the best player in the world. Like you can fold that hand now, right, Like are you We all get things wrong? I said Calves in five. I had to hold that hand last year, Like you're off that now? Why why would that be because you witness is there? Doug? Doug? What even why would that be because you've been alive the last two weeks? Does that's why? I don't I don't. I don't understand. Because Lebron is awesome against the Pacers, okay, and Kevin Durant is awesome

against the Spurs. No, no, no, no, you can't use the same word there. You can't use those guys they you can't. Whatever Lebron was and Kevin Durant for they weren't the same thing, right, Like Kevin Durant around one of Lebron's around one, we're not at all similar. Like Kevin Durant was really really good the way superstars are. Lebron did something that only he and only he in the league right now, and he and one or two other guys in league history could have done this pass round.

So like, don't let's not let's come on, you be be better and more fair than this. Don't act like they were the same in round one, because they weren't. Like it's a nice play on work. You're you're right, you're right. Kevin Durant one five of four of his five games. The Bron won four of his seven games. Like this is like, this is what you do. This is what you do. You go, you simply go based upon this, you're like, well, based upon the stats. That's cool.

I watched the game. They're both the best players on the floor, and the difference is the difference is that Kevin Durant one has to come out because he has a better team, but he also plays more defense because whether one he's got more energy, or two he's younger. Like again, like you don't, you don't have to agree. My My point is simply, I also, who's the best basketball player alive? I would take Kevin Durrett. Oh no, you wouldn't. You just painted yourself into a corner. And

so now you can't say anything else. Why who can own this one? Who don't truly believe that? You don't? Why? Why do I not believe that if you flip the two players. I'm just curious if you tell me this, Please tell me if at the beginning of these playoffs Durant and Lebron flop flip flop teams? Are the Warriors worst? No, they're probably the same. Are just the same? Are the Calves better? They're probably the same. Oh they're the same. Come on, dog, come on like and by the way,

it's the best you can say, is they're the same. Yeah, they're they're they're they're both dominant ball handling superstars. Durant's a better shooter. Lebron James is a has A has is physically more dominant. Uh, Durant. Durant currently, I would say better at defending the rim, whereas you know Lebron James a better, a better pure rebounder than than a Kevin durant Is. But I mean, and I would say Lebron is a better past Lebron is a better pastor.

You would you would give him that, you'd give the most that that's kind of you a one guy who is right now above average passer for the NBA compared to a guy who is one of the three greatest pastors in the history of the NBA. I guess my thing is, Nick, I don't understand why every argument has

to tell into Lebron Leron James is great. I'm more interested in whether or not what he's doing is sustainable and will an inferior team, which all the teams in the Eastern Conference are inferior to a Lebron James lead team, we were in agree to that. Hold on, Hold on, how like this is the Busses Celtics don't have their three best players. The Philadelphias seventy six ers have dudes that have never played in the playoff games they're play

in Toronto. This is the Toronto team that just had its best season in franchise history, is fully healthy one games that this thing because this is the Eastern Conference, Like where where would Toronto be in the Western Conference? Would you put him ahead of the Rockets? Hold on, would you put him ahead of the Rockets? Would you put him ahead of the Golden State Warriors? No? Hold on,

wait a second, yeah, I like the what else? Oh wait, the three seed in the Westcot swept and the fourth season the Westcot beat Because outside of the Rockets is the Warriors. The West slightly over any of the ship but they're not the point I've done. The limb is the Cavs, Like this is what we do every year. Oh my gosh, the Calves could get beat, The Calves

could get beat, The Calves could get beat. And then when Lebron takes him to the finals, Oh, it doesn't count because the East was overrated, Like we we we know how this story gets told, like, oh wait, this is guys, they're vulnerable. Atlanta won sixty games, guys, this is this is Toronto's year. Guys, look at a Boston Isaiah Thomas are doing. And then when the Calves win the conference, it's like, oh, it doesn't count. The East is not very good. The East was overrated, Like come on,

let's be fair here. But the reason that I went back to the question of who's better is because you, for reasons that I can't quite understand, you do these. You put yourself one of the best basketball minds I know, through these mental gymnastics to justify something that I don't think you fully believe, which is why I made I took the shot early, which about Lebron playing in all those games. I tweet out just an objective fact like, hey, here's where Lebron is now in the all time Playoff

record book. And he, by the way, for some context of it, that means he has more, for example, assists than Jason Kidd, rebounds than Larry Bird, points, and steals than everyone. And you write on Twitter, well, actually, Larry Bird played in the hundred and sixty four playoff games and Lebron played in Good talk, get Nick right, which totally misses the point of longevity matters and availability matters, and you don't get credit for having your career cut

short because you couldn't stay healthy. There's there's a there's a different part to it. You said they're there, would you say they're objective stats? It's not objective if you don't give the context of hey, they used to play three game first round series. Hey, they didn't switched to then they go three they then they switched it to five games series. There used to be less playoff games. In addition that he didn't take it like you can't Bird's career. They never played a three game series at

like that. Yes they did, well, was it three game series? When when he when they swept the Chicago Bulls, which again there's another one three oh not three? Excuse me? A five game series which you could end in three games. So if you play fewer, if you play, you play fewer games. Excuse me, I misspoke. Uh, if you play, you play fewer games, you play fewer games and you play. Yes, longevity does matter, okay, but that's that's when you become a stat compiler. Right. If you say that he has

more steals and Pippen like that sounds really impressive. But if I told you that Scottie Pippen played two two playoff games, it's a little bit less impressive. What are the average per game? So one of the things lebron Is has been able to do, which I do marvel at, is stay healthy. The problem with staying healthy and being in the league for fifteen years and playing on Olympic teams, with the exception of the last one. He didn't what

is you're playing a ton of games? And we go back to by very first question, which is, dude, at some point he's gonna he's gonna run out of gas. No, I think it's against the Sixers, and I don't think, and I don't, I don't know. I don't think either. I don't. I started the show saying, I don't think the Sixers have the culture to really be here. I think that's what one last night for the Boston Celtics.

It may well win them the series. I don't think any of these teams are particularly good in the East, based upon how they're comprised. But I do think that I think that Lebron healthy, and I also think that people are diminishing the calves. You're right, Kevin Love is better than how he played last series. Kevin Love is probably a Hall of Fame player at the end of the day, and he's in his prime. Like they have

pretty good players round. It's not as bad as the o A Team eight team was miraculous to get them to the finals. So so I I look at it and I'm like, look, I think they're still better than all of these teams. But I think that all of these teams are going to make him score forty at night, and he's gonna do it, but he's gonna eventually running the gas because that's what happens when you're a human being.

Just just real quick, because this is something people have been doing throughout this postseason, and I was I'm trying to get as many people on the record as possible. Right now, if you had to pick one team, you only get one one team to come out of the East, I will pick Cleveland right now. The one team you would pick to come out of the East is who Cleveland. It's just like Kansas in the Big Twelve or or

I'm so confused. You just said you thought they would get beat by Philly, but you're picking the Cleveland your team, Yes, because I think Cleveland is I think Cleveland is knows how to win a game. Seven knows how to win important games when the seven Sixers don't. Again, my maybe it's my fear is that Lebron you can only go back to the well so many times to find this amount of energy, and I just I fear that he loses to an inferior team. But if you make me pick,

I'm gonna put my salary on one team. I'm taking Lebron and the Calves. Okay, the only way Here's Here's one of the things is you always you act like I think Lebron stinks or that I think. I don't. I just I don't think he's Jordan's. I think he's the closest thing to Jordan we've seen. You don't even

think he's Bird. No, no, no no, I think Bird gets diminished because of the back and because of the era in which he played, in which Jordan you surped them, and Magic kind of you surped him because Magic was probably surrounded by better talent and didn't break down as early, even though Magic screw was. And those three are the three of the Mount Rushmore. And you put Lebron up there with him in modern basketball in my opinion. But here's the thing, man, You can you you you you

can say, oh, you act like I ate Lebron. I don't. I don't et Lebron. I don't act like ate Lebron. I act like and I am accurate in you rastically, and I think intentionally under rate him like you can we you and I can go to Capital Grill and have a two and a half hour in her and if we walk out of it and I'm like, hey, how was it, man, You're like, you know, it's pretty good.

It's pretty good. Like you, you can appreciate it and enjoy it while wildly underrating it when you when when when you like constantly try to try to make the let me try to find the exact words here, when you constantly try to explain how, oh, actually, well, actually having more steals than anyone in the history of the NBA playoffs, here's why that's not as impressive as you think. You're bothered by You're bothered by that. No, I just

think it's intellectually dishonest. I don't. I think he's actually dishonest to to to list out stats that say he's a better read. That that makes people and not you, but that makes people really go, he's a better rebatter than the bird, better defensive than pipping, he's better than you know, he's he's better score than anybody's been in the history of the NBA. It's like, yeah, well he's played more games. That's the that's the Derek Jeter, Like

look at what Like Derek Peter has more opportunities? Where are you doing again? Like the Derek Jeter Like okay, man, Like it's fine, and you're still you're still as we sit here on May one, two thousand and eighteen, making the argument that someone right now, forget this historic context of it, that Kevin Durant is better than him. You're the only person You're one of two people I know that publicly makes that argument. I'm shocked you want to do it, like it's it's baffling to me, but more

power to you. Like you're you're you're going with the guy as the best player in the world, who is not we are not at all certain is the best player on his own team. Like that's fine, who's not certain he's the best? He's he he might get he'll probably get second in Defensive Player of the year. No, no, what hunh Durant because Bobart will be first and then beat will be second. And I don't think play I would say he's I would guess he'll be second defensive

Player of the year, even you say's third. Kevin Durant has taken a mass CIVI leap in his and how he's valued at the defensive end. He was the better player for the first two months of the year. I think that that narrative got set for a bit and

then it fell off slightly. And I think he would tell you the same and by the way I would, I would wager any amount of money you would like that he finishes outside of the top two, and I would wait her a significant amount of money he finishes outside of the top three in defensive Player of the Year. But that's not to But that's now I guess I'm parsing somewhat. He was very, very good defensively this year.

He was worth at everything on offense than Lebron. Everything go by, okay, Like you live here a world based on stats, and on stats, do you think that he's Lebron is a better shooter than Kevin Durant. Nobody, nobody on Earth thinks that he that. I don't think Lebron is a better shooter than Kevin Durant. I just don't. This is something that that you do that I don't. I don't break down who's like if if I'm asked who's the a shooter in the world, then I'll answer

that question. I care about score. I care about scoring, so I care out scoring, and I care about efficiency like I do not care if you were to say that, like when we when we evaluate golfers, right, if someone were to ask you specifically, who's the best long putter, like then not the guy with the longest putter, but who can make the longest putter, then I'll answer that question.

But if you want to ask me who's the best at getting the ball in the cup, I don't care if one guy has a bunch of tap ins because his iron play is so good, Like I don't penalize Lebron because he can get the ball to the rim. And by the way, as as a three point shooter this year, he's one of the best he's been. Now and I said everything offensively, let me let me rephrase that.

Kevin Durant is obviously clearly a better free throw shooter than Lebron James, and he is a better shooter than Lebron James, but he's not a better scorer than Lebron. That that's what I would, I would I would disagree with you. Now. I think part of that is to construct of the team in which he's in and and look, will agreed to disagree on on that note, Look, I gotta run. We will continue this at some point it

won't be as simply Lebron based discussion. He still didn't tell like so you think he he will hold up despite this load that he's carrying. I think they'll be the Raptors in five or fewer Dames and sixers, sixers. Listen, they're gonna go to the NBA finals. They're gonna go to the NBA Finals. I think that I think that

they are drawing, nearly drawing dead against Golden State. I think, oddly enough, if it's Houston, they there are some interesting things they can do against Houston, but they will be an enormous underdog against Golden State. Good stuff, thanks Nick. Eric Gordon joins us on the Doug Gottlin Show on Fox Sports Radio, Erica. How are you? Oh, everything's good. How are you going? I'm really really well. Hey, I want to ask you quickly. This is and I'm sure

you weren't prepared for this. I'll give you a second because I remember when you committed to playing in college. I remember how big a thing it was. Did you did you see? Uh? Do you see what happened with Romeo Langford committing to Indiana yesterday. How it's kind of a circus and a show. You remember back when you originally committed because you were you were going to Illinois and then you change your mind and went to Indiana, right, Yeah, yeah, yeah, mon, Yeah,

my situation was a little different. But yeah, I did hear was a home you know, and we're definitely excited to see him. Uh yeah, No, it's gonna be interesting to see. It seems like a change in Indiana basketball, trying to get it back to getting those in state guys. Uh, you know that that's that's the big thing. Right If I you can build a fence and keep everybody in state at home, you got a chance to beat anybody, isn't it. Oh, no question, there'll be you know, a

championship caliber team. The talent is they just to go to you and uh, you know, you only see some many kids from the Indianna leave and they are very successful elsewhere. So uh, for sure, they gotta keep you guys in state. When when you guys acquired Chris Paul, what did you what did you what did you honestly think when you guys moved to go get Chris Paul. Well, really it was really based off our office. When Chris Paul came, I knew it it was gonna work because

he's a playmaker. You know. It's not like you're just bringing in a guy who's just who's just another score. He's he's a pointmaker. He's he's uh, you know, he's he's naturally a past first point guard and he comes here and uh plays a little bit more, you know, shooting guard. But it involves his game because now he's

a horphan, just a pastor. Yeah, but he's also a guy that can dominate the ball, right, Mike D'Antonio, you're the ball mover, a ball stopper, and you know everything you guys have done in the past has been off of James Harden. Was there any thought in your mind, like, man, I don't know if this is gonna work two guys

that like the ball in their hands in our offense. No, not necessarily, because the Antoni system is you have to you have to make plays a little quicker than normal because we had we played to happen for floors space. So if you just don't make if you don't make the quick opportunity happened, and uh, then all you're gonna do is just hurt yourself and hurt the team. So it's I think it's naturally fitted for for them to really make good play making skills really quickly. Uh. There's

been a lot of talk about your team's defense. Obviously numbers are are are pretty good. Um, how how has this the team evolved defensively from when you first got there to now the unit that we've seen so far in the playoffs. Uh, I like our defense. I think our defense has been really feeling our offense. I really feel like we have any really hit all cylinders on office, uh throughout this playoffs like we did during the season.

And uh, but you know, we switch a lot everybody's we take away a lot of things that other teams do. And uh, I really haven't been like I really like how this has been this whole this whole playoff. You mentioned your your offense has and gotta go one big reason why you weren't hitting shots. And you know, I'm like, look, you shoot you in the regular season, only so far in the playoffs you couldn't make it, couldn't make a bucket.

What's is there something you're gonna change that, you're gonna do. I mean, what what's going on with your jump shot? Well, it's not really what's going on with my jump shot? Is that just uh teams are just trying to take away a lot you know. Um, the only way I'll be able to get that chance was, you know, half the ball of my hands willing to be able to create a little bit more because when when I'm in the game, these guys are just not leaving me from

three points. So there's just more like the nine me and uh and too, you know. Uh, So I just kind of figure out ways. But as long as we're winning, that's the main thing, because you can't let a lot of stuff get to you. You you you mentioned that they're hugging up on three point shooters, right, making you guys try and take tok too. It is kind of making James Harden, you know, trying you know, beat him

by himself. It's a little bit of what the Pacers have tried to do to lebron On, right, which is, you know, take away those three take away all the what you do best, and make one guy care you so that he gets tired in the fourth quarters. That a little bit of the game plan. Is there any similarity there between how they're playing the broad and how people are trying to guard Harden, Well, every team is different, but in this series, that's what it seems, that's what

Keith was doing. You know, they're not letting there trying to not force uh, letting this play a lot of you know, take a lot of threes and everything they wanted inside to compare. So it's said, you know, you know, he's serious. Is going to be different for everybody. But as long as we you know, he continue to win and went at a good you know, we went at a good uh you know, have a good lead on teams, then I'll take that. I'll take that chance. Yeah, obviously

you guys dominated one Tini. They didn't have Rubio that they didn't feel like they were really competitive in that game. You mentioned Golbert um is it. I think most people talk about how good he is to fending at the rim, but I would say it's also that for a guy that big and that long, it's that he can actually cover some out in the perimeter. What makes him such an effective defender. It's hard, it's hard for us Eric

to see when we're watching on TV. Other than in blocking shots at the rim, you're trying to go at him. He gets the switch on you. What makes Rudy Gobert such such a great defender? Uh, he's tough when you're going into the basket because he's always alternating shots and

he also blocked shots too. But what we want to we want to get him out in there for all the perimeter, so we could, you know, you know, get it better, get a better shot at him as far as you know, maybe should take it three, maybe driving to the basket where someone else could help him as we're driving to the basket. So we always want to create a mismatch. Eric Gordon joining us on the Doug Gotlip Show. How much do you pay attention to what

the Warriors are doing? Not as much? But you know the Warriors they play the same way all the time, so you know they I don't really see to do any anything different. I just mean, do you do you watch that steps coming back tonight? Do you watch how they are planned? You watch those games? Or are you two locked in what you're doing. I don't know. I'm a fan of the game, so I'm gonna watch other teams and uh, but for sure, I'm focusing on what we're doing. That's no, I'm not saying you're not I'm

not saying you're going home. You're like, I'm not paying any attention to this. How much I was? How much do game plans vary from game one to get like, because huge, Utah's got to make some sort of adjustment, right, if their plan was to make hard and beat him, well, that plan didn't work. He had forty eight and seven and he did so pretty efficiently, seven and twelve from three point range. How much do game plans vary from game to game in the playoffs? Yeah, based on what

they what we see them doing the first quarter. You know, it's either, you know, our point guards or our playmakers are either going to score a lot of points and create a lot of assists or or or we're gonna get a lot of threes of where they're gonna be helping a lot. So it's uh, but every game that we played them so far, because against Utah they've always try to take away or three, so you know, they're

pretty I'm pretty sure they might stick to what they're doing. Yeah, So do you take a step back even further to space it out even you know, even more so, like if they're gonna hug up on you, don't you just continue to to space and almost get higher out on the floor and it becomes even more open inside the lane. Well sometimes well some yeah, we're gonna keep the sports floor space, that's no question. But you know it doesn't even if I take a step back there, they're still

gonna stay with stick with me. So they're just creating one on one situations where go there at the rim where our guards are going down. Here Eric Gordon joining us in the Doug Outler Show. And it fascinating how much basketball has changed since like you were coming up right, remember like you're coming out of high school Indianapolis, and even back then, people like, man, you gotta go on one on one mid range game, mid range game, right, you got to move without the basketball. Yeah, you guys

do move without the basketball. But a lot of it's just pace in space, you know, find your spots, you know, relocate based upon penetration, and everything is at the rim. Like it's it's kind of crazy that when you were a kid, I'm sure people like don't get outside the three point line, get in there and show a midrange pull up, and now that's considered the worst shot in basketball. Yeah, for sure, because everybody's getting taller and longer. So that

two point shot is uh, it's it's easier. It's an easier contested shot. Now it seems like so the best way to go is uh, you know, be able to knock down threes and be able to take it to the basket. And and as you can see, everybody's gonna have to have the complete package. Uh here here soon where I mean one through five because this year in the sea, centers that are tall and lanky and that are that will bring the ball maybe down the floor.

You know, guys like Jonice or Durant. You're gonna just see a whole bunch more guys that size handling the ball and even garden guards sometimes. So it's you gotta have a complete package. Now, who's the tougher cover, Lebron or Kevin Durant for you personally? M both of them are different, but um, how so because Durant, because Durant is tall and he can shoot too, so I it's it's tough. And Lebron is stronger. He's gonna use his power and he has size on a lot of people too,

So I don't know. It's tough, but if you if I had it, Durant is very tough. Yeah, he's got he's got. He's got a greater kind of arsenal of scoring scoring options whereas Lebron. Lebron can score, but also he a little bit more of a passer, right, I mean, and and Lebron also settled. Sometimes I'll just get tired and settled for a jump shot, which you kind of feel like you won. He would have goes in you feel like you kind of won, as opposed to when

Durant shoots, you feel like you didn't win. And sometimes you could be there with Durant, he just jumps up and shoots over you because he's so tall exactly now that's he's almost he's like seven feet tall and he just shoots at will. So it's tough. Eric Gordon joining us, Do you guys want to be you want to be considered the favorite or the underdog in the series against

the Warriors? Well, um, I don't. I don't see really see how we can be the favorites because you know the Warriors, they have been to the final spur four times, in a row. And uh, but I would like to, you know, have our chance at them next series. If we it's you know, if we could just continue to play well, I would love it. And uh, you know, I mean there's just no way that you can have us as the favorites. But um, we'll see what happens. Uh. You tall the toughest place to play the league, it's

one of them. That's I definitely would say that's always been one of the toughest places. All watch out for guys with their cell phones trying to capture all the different images and shove them in your face. We know Russ is not a fan, not a fan at all. That j Thanks so much for joining us. We appreciate to be our guest. Best of luck inst the Jazz. Thanks appreciate it all right, Eric Gordon joining us in the Doug Gotlin Show. Let's talk to NBA who Chris

Busarry joined us. He's the NBA inside of a Fox Sports one you can hear on Fox Sports. Trading the Weekends is a great show six nine pm Eastern Time with Rob Parker. Chris, Here's what I said about the Celtics and the seventies sixers and and you can feel free, as you always are, free to disagree with me if you if you'd like um. They both have reloaded, rebuilt, remade themselves, but in different ways. Much like one has um has read one a house, the other one straped

it and started all over. And what happens when you rebuild a house is you still have the character of the house. And I bring that up because what the Celtics did was they tried to establish a winning culture first and then slowly acquired players through the draft and then eventually via free agency in trades, uh to have you know, NBA All Star level talent. Whereas the seventies sixers they were they were trying to lose games, so

you couldn't really establish any sort of culture. And they got the players first, and now we're trying to establish culture on the fly. And that's why this though the Celtics don't currently have their top three players, they're still probably a better team because they have a better culture that's ingrained in them over several years. Fair. Wow, you said a lot, but yeah, I think a lot of

it makes sense. That's why, you know, when you talk to executives around the league about tanking, what the word that you hear is just what you use. Culture, and a lot of teams just don't want to bring that quote unquote culture into their building. They don't want a losing culture where we everybody knows we're trying to love and to be honest. Players don't even want to Like when Philly was doing that, three agents didn't want to

go there. You know. Jelil Okaford. Now granted he didn't turn out to be a very good player, but he didn't want to be drafted by the Sixes because of that losing culture. So what you say is definitely correct on many levels. I still think Philadelphia can get out of it. Um. I think the players that they have not granted and bid was there for it. Um. Simmons really wasn't. Uh, Dario Sary was there for some of it, but he was. You know, both of those guys MBTN

Sarge or NBA was hurt. Um. You know Bell and Nellie, Ilya, Sulva, Reddick, they weren't there for it. Brett Brown was, but I think he's proven to be a good, solid coach. I don't think this is gonna hold them back. I just think Boston has Brad Stevens is phenomenal, and look, I think they'd be certainly better with Kyrie Irving, no question, but I'm not sure how much better. Like I think it's almost that like that guy can just put in

whoever he has and they're incredibly productive. I'm picking Philadelphia to win the series, but I would not be shocked or surprised in the least bit if Boston wins it because they just played so hard. They execute well, they play smart, and they do have some talented athletes. They don't really have stars, um yet, but they have enough talent to make it work in a week Eastern conference. Um. Okay, help me out here. Uh. I actually believe Lebron James

when he said he was tired, did you. I think he was speaking in the moment like he was tired that moment. He was tired, you know, he wanted to go home and get some rest. I don't believe he was saying, uh that he's you know, he's really not gonna be at his best in this Raptors series. Look, I think Lebron sometimes does like to ratchet up the degree of difficulty, you know, and make it seem like he's going over an even bigger obstacle than he is,

so I expect him to be fine. I don't really think fatigue has gone really be a factor in this series. That's interesting because I do. Um. Look, I think that there's no good matchup that the Raptors have to guard him. They just don't, and ultimately that becomes their undoing. But if you look at the Pacers, like the game plan

is pretty pretty simple. They want a single cover him, make Lebron's score as much as he could buy himself, make him really work to get his own shot, and not let him facilitate, hoping that in the fourth quarter he'd running the gas. And many times that worked. They just didn't have enough offense on their end. Yeah, I mean that's the thing. The Pacers couldn't produce a lot of office. Um, they did do a good job. You know.

Stephen Jackson is up here this week at Fox that we've been on some shows together, and he he did not like the Pacers strategy. He thought that they should have doubled Lebron, got the ball out of his hands and made everybody else beat you. And obviously those guys didn't produce. But I I think that's easier, said than done. I mean, Lebron has always gotten his throughout his fifteen year career, so he's gonna put thirty something on you

regardless of how you defend him. But to your point, even if you don't like didn't like the defensive strategy, that wasn't the problem for the Papers. The problem was that they couldn't score. Now, Toronto is a team that can score, and they are a better defensive team than Indiana. So on paper, there are a lot of reasons to like the Raptors, But I just don't think that their stars are close enough to Lebron James where they're going

to be able to beat him. I think I think the CAVN gonna winning in six I think they will have a little less trouble with the Raptors than they had with the Pacers. Christopher start joining us in the Doug Gotlip Show Fox Sports Radio. That's interesting. I I think there it's a bad matchup for the Raptors. I just think ultimately Lebron gets worn down. Um, so you you you've picking picking the Raptors. No, I think I think there's a chance he loses maybe to the Sixers

in the next series. Even though I think if if, if, if all things were equal, they would beat the Sixers more. You know, they beat the Sixers four times in seven. I just think ultimately he even though the Sixers aren't as good, um, and they don't have the degree worn down. Yeah, I like he went seven games, then you're gonna go You're gonna go six in this thing. Like the Raptors are gonna beat him once or twice. And you know, I feel like the Sixers will beat him a couple

of times. And look, if you watch games seven, fourth quarter, he didn't have much use in the tank. No. Look, you make a good point, and they're gonna be times where he has to defend the best player you know, Um, and that's gonna wear him down. Not I don't think it'll bite them this series, but I do agree with you that over the course of these playoffs it could

become a factor. Like maybe it happens in the conference finals. Um. You know when he had to carry this load when it first in Cleveland, you know, he was a lot younger, and he had a lot more energy, and for him to do this at this stage in his career, even though he plays smarter and probably can salvage some energy, a lot better than he used to. Yeah, I could see it taken a toll. That's why it is imperative that first Kevin Love, I mean, he's got to step

up and play much better. Uh. And then I know their hope is just that some of these young kids, and none of them have done it, Clauson could. They have looked far worse than the playoffs, and they did in the regular season, and they're gonna they're gonna have to have those guys step up and play better if they want to get to the conference to the finals.

It's interesting because when that trade was made the first couple of games, everybody said how much better they are and was like, look, these guys haven't played in real basketball games. It's completely differently, completely different, and something that's been exposed that they haven't played in real important basketball games and everything they do gets micromanaged. The minutes get tight,

and people, have you scouted better? The game is more physical and and they've been exposed as being immature in the in the landscape of playoffs. After that, Yeah, that's the thing. I mean, they were fined in the regular season even though they had their their poor moments as a team with the new guys. But let's look at it. Larry Nance Jr. Who he has, He's been okay for what he does. Clarkson, they're coming off the bench for a bad Western Conference team, you know, riding hood there.

The reason you saw let him go because he's so up and down and you know, those are the guys that we're gonna supposed to ride in with the Calvary and saved the calv Um. I thought theoretically it could work because they had a lot more energy and youth and athleticism, so they were they should have been able to be better defender. But to your point is telling. I mean, look at what t Lou went with in Game seven. He went with the guys that had been there, even though j R. Is I mean, he's the biggest

see saw in the league in terms of consistency. But that's who Tyler went with and it got it done for him. Uh. You know, I expected to work this series as well. But the next one, to your point, is where it could haunt him. But look, I think Boston. It could be Boston that they're facing in the conference finals. They play Boston, I couldn't. I mean, that would be an all time upset at Boston beats them with that. Yeah,

and that's an interest. That's a great like. They to me, they just don't have enough talent without Kyrie Um and maybe even without Hayward too to beat Lebron because he's not only talented but smart. Him is an envied or smart but maybe not smart enough at this stage of their career. A couple of quick ones. Steph is gonna play tonight. They say, no minutes restriction, They're gonna start him. I think they'll start him. You know, you bring out a player like that, you usually start him. Um. I

think it's good. If the doctors have said that, look he's just ready in game two, is he's gonna be from game three? I play him because you know this, Look, I know he's gonna fit in swimmingly, uh seamlessly. It is that I don't really be a problem, but there still is an adjustment period. I don't care who the player is and what the system is. And if I'm going to say I don't want to be adjusted against Houston. I want to get through those adjustments, that that assimilation again.

But the next three or four games, whatever it takes to get rid of New Orleans and then we're rolling on all cylinders when we face Houston in the conference final. Ye I tend to agree with you on that one. Um. Any have you heard anything early on what the what the Thunder are gonna try and do well? I mean, I think George is out of there. I think if I'm the Thunder, I think Carmelo Anthony's comments were a

blessing in this guy. And I would have met with him last night and been like, look, we want you to come off the bench and just hope that he says, well, I'm gonna opt out, because I mean, Mellow is first ballot Hall of Famer in my opinion, but at this stage of his career, he's got to realize what he

is and what he is not. And there's no way he's getting that type of money on the market, open market, um, And there's nowhere he's going to go to play the old role that he used to play as the old Mellow. So where's he going? So I don't think he's gonna opt out. I think he put his foot in his mouth and he's gonna look bad because he's gonna opt into that deal. I don't try to get a buy out. Maybe get that, but you know, look, okay, see is in a different place now, and they're not going to

win a championship. They're not gonna compete for a championship for the foreseeable future. They've got one superb player who is a you know, a great spectacular show, and they're gonna sell out the arenas because people are gonna want to see him. They feel he's been loyal to that city and they can hope to make the playoffs every year. But that's really where they're at now. Like the building around him, I think there's two ways to build around western.

One you just get a super duper star like Kevin Durant and maybe you've got enough talent to win a championship. They came close even though they didn't do it. Or you built around him like Alan Iverson, like they didn't Philly with the grinders three in d guys for today's game. But you need a superior coach to do that. Uh, And I don't know that that could win in today's NBA anyway, But I don't think Billy Donovan is the coach for that. And you know that's a lot of rebuilding.

So I think that's I think they'll go that ladder route. Um when when George leaves and if Mellow is bought out or whatever, Uh, they'll put grinders and three in D guys around him. But unless they get rid of Donovan, I don't think Donald will be to maximize that type of the only other thing to do is to would be to double down on Donovan and let him coach

coach because I feel like he's not coaching Westbrook. Whether it's out of fear or whatever, but like you know, you feel like if there see I agree with you. Not now Scotty Brooke didn't either. Um, I don't know who will. I don't think. I don't think it's that the front office or somebody is saying Donovan can't like you don't touch Westbrook. I just don't know that he has the I don't want to question his heart, but I just don't think he's gonna say anything the Westbrook.

There's a Quaiet Leonard story out there. ESPN has it. UM. I read into it, and it doesn't feel like the Spurs have any problem with Kauai. It's more the people around Kauai. What's it likely he returns to San Antonio if they offered their their best shot is offering him that super Max right away, because I'm cold. He it's not like he's dying to get out of San Antonio. Kauai is baffled and bothered by the fact that the Spurs have you know, he They're like, we've never seen

them go at a player like this. You know, the comments about his group, Uh, Tony Parker, um, you know if some people think my new um, you know, the anonymous sources and stories talking about tension because Kauai's camp like, wait a minute, We've been fully transparent with the Spurs. They knew we were getting the second opinion. They were on board with it. They knew Kauai was gonna be in New York working out. They were on board with it. They sent trainers to New York to work out with them.

They were on board with that. When we're with them, their furrings. But when we you know, then we see these stories or we see these comments, and we're saying, what's going on, there's a bit of like disingenuous this there that Kauai's camp feel like they see and there will have to be some smoothing over. Uh. It can be done like it better be done with the super Max offer if it's not done with a super Max offer, and I think it's gonna be tough for san Antonio

to make it work. But I believe, and from this one talking to people close to this situation, that Kauai will give them a chance, um if they come with the right money and you know, if if they say the right things. But he's a bit bothered by the way things have happened because he feels like they've taken a shot at he when he's hurt and he never saw him do that with any other players. Great tough

and Christoper Sorry. Check him out this Sunday sixty nine Eastern Time with Rob Parker and of course telling all his work on Fox Sports One step. Thanks for joining us man. All right, that's the latest version of All Ball. Don't forget to download, subscribe, and rate our podcast. I'm dog Got